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Drug resistance

Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes in South Africa: Analysis of Multidrug-Resistant Cases

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal have conducted a retrospective study to assess treatment outcomes of patients receiving the nine-month short regimen for rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (RR/MDR-TB) in uMkhanyakude District, South Africa. The study, published in BMC Infectious Diseases, aimed to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with treatment success or failure. The findings highlight the significance of employment status, treatment interruption, and adverse drug reactions as predictors of treatment failure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 375 RR/MDR-TB patients on the nine-month short-course therapy, with 50.1% (n = 188) being males and 39.5% (n = 148) aged 35-51 years.
  • The treatment success rate was 81.3% (n = 305), with 48.8% (n = 183) cured and 32.5% (n = 122) completing treatment without a confirmed bacteriological cure.
  • Occupational status, treatment interruption, and adverse drug reactions were significant predictors of treatment failure.
  • Employed patients had higher odds of failure (aOR = 10.5, p = 0.001), while shorter treatment interruption (1 month) was protective (OR = 0.02, p = 0.001).
  • Adverse drug reactions increased the risk of failure (OR = 4.2, p = 0.001).
  • The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions for employed individuals with RR/MDR-TB.

Statistics:

  • 375 patients received the nine-month short-course therapy for RR/MDR-TB.
  • 50.1% (n = 188) of patients were male.
  • 39.5% (n = 148) of patients were aged 35-51 years.
  • 81.3% (n = 305) of patients achieved treatment success.
  • 48.8% (n = 183) of patients were cured.
  • 32.5% (n = 122) of patients completed treatment without a confirmed bacteriological cure.
  • 18.7% (n = 70) of patients experienced unsuccessful treatment outcomes, including deaths (3.2%, n = 12), treatment failures (3.7%, n = 14), loss to follow-up (6.7%, n = 25), and treatment interruption leading to unsuccessful outcomes (5.1%, n = 19).

Sources:

  • "Treatment outcomes of short-regimen multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in uMkhanyakude district (2018-2022) South Africa: a retrospective, cross-sectional study." BMC Infectious Diseases, 2025;25(1):1376.
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Durban, South Africa.
  • Lucky Mtolo, Nqobile Ngoma, and Saloshini Naidoo, authors of the study.
  • BioMed Central, publisher of BMC Infectious Diseases.
  • Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England.

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